Alex Turnbull's plan to 'destroy' News Corp's political influence

The support of former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull's son, Alex Turnbull, for several independent political candidates, including Kerryn Phelps in his father's old seat, is part of a long-term plan to challenge the major parties and reduce the influence of the Murdoch family over Australian politics.

Alex Turnbull, a private investor who lives in Singapore, said he was helping coordinate a project to provide corporate and technological support to help independents campaign, raise money and comply with electoral laws.

"If you want to destroy News Corp's influence in Australian politics you need to provide the infrastructure for lazy members of the incumbent parties to face challenges from their constituents," he said in an interview on Sunday.

Father and son

On Sunday, Alex Turnbull confirmed his involvement with Ms Banks, and said he was working with Dr Phelps, who is trying to hold the Sydney eastern suburbs seat of Wentworth from the Liberal Party's Dave Sharma.

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A spokesperson for Dr Phelps said: “The Phelps campaign is happy to receive support from anyone who shares our values and objectives such as real action on climate change and supporting a shift towards renewables and a clean energy future."

Malcolm Turnbull has offered his support to Mr Sharma, who declined to comment. Alex Turnbull said he was "in touch with" Oliver Yates, an independent running in Kooyong in Victoria.

Alex Turnbull's political activities have triggered allegations in the Liberal Party that he is working on behalf on his father to undermine the Coalition Government.

Alex Turnbull wants to help propel the rise of independents in politics. Supplied

Part of the assistance involves a system to legally accept donations, he said. Other jobs include vetting candidates to ensure they don't hold foreign citizenship and ensuring online discussions with voters aren't hijacked by outsiders, he said.

"Staying compliant with the Electoral Act isn't hard but you need to know what you are doing," he said.

Continue after election

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Alex Turnbull said he intended to continue working on the project after the federal election on May 18 with the objective of getting more centrist MPs elected.

"Should the major parties feel threatened? Yes, because one of the major barriers to facing independent threats is becoming a smaller one," he said.

Sydney fund manager John Hempton, a founder of Bronte Capital, said he had donated $6000 to Ms Banks' campaign at the urging of Mr Turnbull.

Nine reported that the Liberal Party in NSW and Victoria had complained to the Australian Electoral Commission that the corporate entities used by the independents might be used to circumvent electoral donation laws.

The Liberal Party has suggested four independent candidates are operating as a political party because they use identical campaign structures.

A spokesman for the commission said on Sunday it didn't comment on complaints.

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Mr Turnbull denied he was helping Olympian and barrister Zali Steggall in former prime minister Tony Abbott's seat of Warringah, where she is being backed by the left-wing GetUp! organisation.

Ms Steggall's campaign said Mr Turnbull wasn't helping. "Zali's campaign has not received any financial or administrative support from Alex Turnbull," a spokesperson said.

Credlin & Co

Mr Abbott's former chief of staff, Peta Credlin, criticised Alex Turnbull in a column in the Sunday Telegraph, a paper owned by News Corp, which is controlled by the Murdoch family.

"Clearly not over his father's loss of the top job, reports are now emerging that Alex Turnbull is advising independents on how to oust sitting Liberal MPs," she wrote. "A sadder political sight is yet to be seen."

Mr Turnbull has also donated to an independent candidate running for the Senate in the ACT, Anthony Pesec, an engineer and small businessman.

"Anthony has known Alex Turnbull since before his decision to run for the Senate, due to their common interest in renewable energy," a spokesman for Mr Pesec said.